Wire-fence machine.



No. 632,746. Patented Sept. l2, I899.

A. B. PROBASCO.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1899.} (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Sept. [2, I899. A. B. PROBASGD. A

WIBE FENCE MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

ABRAHAM B. PROBASOO, OF LEBANON, OHIO.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,746, dated September 12, 1899.

Application filed March 2, 1899. Serial No. 707,448. (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM B. PROBASCO, a citizen of the United States, residing near Lebanon, lVarren county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vire-Fence Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawin gs, with the reference-numerals and letters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines used in the construction of wire fences where they consist of horizontal wires or stringers stretched between posts and of stay or cross wires connecting them transversely. It is used for connecting these stay or cross wires, the operation being sometimes called weaving, and it consists of connecting such wires by winding them around a stringer, then passing them successively to the next stringers above or below and to which they are also connected by being Wound around each until all stringers are connected by a cross-wire. These latter are successively attached certain distances apart throughout the entire length of the fence.

The improvements consist of certain apparatus constructed as hereinafter described whereby two cross-wires are put on at once and of a spaced support working in conjunction therewith and whereby the stringers are held rigid and prevented from sagging or spreading while the upright cross-wires are connected.

In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof is found a full description of my invention, together with its operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 shows in a perspective view the device in operative position, an upright cross- .wire being also shown connected to the stringer. Fig. 2 shows in a sectional side view the support used for holding the stringers rigid during operations and with thewinding device in position to start operations.

Fig. 3, in a similar view, shows progress of operations. Fig. at, in a view also similar, shows the support which holds the stringer-wires rigid during operations while being shifted from one position to another succeeding. one. Fig. 5 shows a front View of the winding device placed in position for starting operations. Fig. 6 is a top view of the preceding figure. Fig. 7, in an end view of the device, shows manner of supporting the same while it is supplied with wire.

It is considered most appropriate to call the device which connects the cross wires a winding device, and the same consists, essentially, of two spools 11, mounted side by side in an oblong frame 12. These spools carry the wire of which the stay-wires 13 are formed, which connect the stringers 14, stretched between posts 15. The wire for the stays, which is usually not as heavy as the stringer-wire, issues through oblong holes 16 in the ends of frame 12, and for starting the ends a are inserted into retaining devices in shape of eyelets 17, projecting from a frame stationary with reference to the winding device while the latter is in operation. Such a structure is found in the frame whichsupports the stringers during. operation. start is usually made from the top stringer, for which purpose eyelets 17 are accordingly located. At that time the winding device rests on the top stringer, the manner of support being by lugs 18, which project from frame 12 and have notches 19, which are occupied by the stringer-wire. These notches are wider at the outer ends of the lugs to facilitate quick insertion of the wire. Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6 show these positions of the parts. The winding device is now turned about the stringer-wire with the latter for a center of such rotation. Twice around is usually sufficient, the wire paying out from the spools, after which the device is taken off and drawn away from the stringer-wire until sufficient wire is unwound from the spools to permit placing it on the next stringer below, which is again received by notches 19. The device is now again rotated, as before, and these operations of winding and shifting to successive positions are repeated until the lowermost stringer is reached, after which, when connected thereto, the stay-wire is clipped off.

The

For manipulating the device in this manner handles 21 are provided on frame 12, which also project beyond all parts of the device and thereby form guards which clear the latter when passing adjacent stringer-wires during rotation and prevent interference therewith. To obtain an adjustable tension, one of the long members of frame 12 (designated by 22) is adjustably connectedto lugs 23 by means of screws, and leather washers 24 are interposed between it and the spools. means of the screws mentioned frame 22 may be moved to or from the spools, thereby bearing with more or less pressure against them until the proper pressure and tension isobtained.

For filling the spools the device is held in a horizontal position on the fence by means of a hooked brace 25, held by notches 26 to the stringer-wire next above, while the hook thereof engages an opening 27 in the frame 12. Notches 19 are closed by nails 28, inserted into holes 29 in lugs 18, to prevent the device from slipping ofi of the stringer-wire on which it rests. is now attached to the drum of the empty spool, which may have a perforation for such purpose to receive the wire end, after which the spool is rotated by a crank-handle 31, inserted into a socket 32 in the end of the spindle of the spool. (See Fig. 7.)

\Vhile the upright stay-wires are attached to the stringers in the manner described, the latter are held rigid in position by a supporting-frame consisting of two rigid sections 33 and 34, hinged together at 35. Section 33 is provided with notches 36, spaced apart to correspond with the distance between the stringer-wires, so that when said frame-section is in position all stringer-wires occupy their respective notches, whereby they are supported and prevented from sagging and spreading. The notches are now closed by swinging the other frame-section 34 against section 33, whereby the wires are held in position within the supporting-frame, while the latter is held at the same time in position on the fence. The frame-sections are so held in their closed position by latches 37, carried by one frame-section, and engaging pins 38 on the other. For convenient and quick operation the two latches are connected by a handle-bar 39, whereby they may be manipu lated simultaneously. W'ith the supportingframe so placed in position the weaving of the cross-wires may now commence, for which purpose the winding device is placed on the top stringer and the ends a of the wire of which the cross-wires orstays are to be formed are inserted into eyelets 17, as before described. WVhen what might be termed a panel has been completed through the entire height of all the stringers, the winding device is detached, the supporting-frame is opened, as shown in Fig. 4, and moved ahead in position for the next panel, when it is closed The wire from a suitable reel again, the winding device placed in position on the top stringer, and weaving resumed. 'lhe stub ends where the stay-wires have been clipped off may be twisted around adjoining wires, as shown at b.

Notches 30 of frame-section 33 are preferably contained in a detachably-connected member 41, of which there may he sets having notches differently spaced to suit difierent styles of fences having their stringers dif ferently spaced. 7

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a fencemachine, the combination of a winding device having spools and adapted to rest on and rotate about a stringer-wire of a fence, and a frame for supporting such stringer-wires and consisting of two rigid sections a link whereby they are hingedly. connected to each other and of which one is provided with notches adapted to receive said stringer wires, while the other section is adapted to close said notches for the purpose described.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of a winding device, adapted to rest on and rotate about the stringer-xvi re of a fence and mounting-spools which carry wire of which crosswires are formed for connecting said stringerwires, the connection being made by winding the former about the latter, and a retaining device, stationary with reference to the winding device when the latter is operated, and adapted to receive the ends of the wire of which the cross-wires are formed.

3. In a fence-machine,the combination with a winding device adapted to rest on and rotate about the stringer-wires of a fence, of a supporting-frame consisting of two rigid sections hinged to each other, one section having notches properly spaced to receive the stringer-wires above mentioned and sustain them in their proper positions, the other section being adapted to close these notches, to hold the parts in position, and locking devices to hold the frame-sections together.

4. A winding device for placing cross-wires on the stringer-wires of a fence, consisting of a frame mounting two rotary spools side by side and which carry the wire of which said a frame adapted to reston and be rotated about such wires, two spools mounted side by side between the longitudinal members of the frame, one of which members is adj ustably connected by means of a screw connection, and washers between this adjustable member and the spools.

6. A winding device for connecting crosswires to the stringer-wires of fences, consisting of a frame adapted to rest on and be rotated about such stringer-wires,wire-earrying spools rotatably mounted on this frame and guards 21 projecting from this latter to prevent during operation of the device interference of it with adjacent stringer-wires.

7. In awinding device for connecting crosswires to the stringer-wires of fences, consisting of a frame adapted to rest on and be rotated about such strin ger-wires,wire-carryin g spools rotatably mounted on this frame, and an opening 27 provided therein, the ends of the spindles of the spools being adapted for connection of a crank-handle, and a hooked brace 25, having notches 26 adapted to connect to one of the stringer-wires mentioned while the hook thereon engages hole 27 in the frame of the winding device for the purposes shown and described.

8. A supporting-frame for sustaining at once all the stringer-wires of a fence and prevent them from sagging and spreading while stay-wires are connected to them by means of a suitable winding device, said supportingframe consisting of two rigid sections hinged to each other and of which one section is provided with notches to receive the stringer- Wires, while the other section closes these notches to retain the parts in position, and locking-lat ches pi votall y secured to each member of one frame-section and pins correspondingly attached to the othersection and adapted to be received by the locking-latches to hold the sections together.

9. A supporting-frame for sustaining at once a number of st ringer-wires of a fence, to prevent them from spreading and sagging while stay-wires are transversely connected to them, detachablyconnected spacer-bars 4C1 provided on this frame and having notches properly distanced to receive such stringerwires, and means to hold the frame on these latter during operations.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM B. PROBASCO. Witnesses:

O. SPENGEL, JOHN 0. ROGERS. 

